Balanced effort propels Central past Springfield Southeast


The Maroons shook off an early stumble by defeating Springfield Southeast 60-47 last Tuesday.


CHAMPAIGN - After a season-opening stumble, the Champaign Central Maroons found their footing at home Tuesday night, using a stout defensive effort and balanced scoring to secure a 60-47 victory over the Springfield Southeast Spartans.

The win, which evened Central’s early season record at 1-1, was fueled by contributions across the roster. Junior Jeremy McCoy led all scorers with 18 points, while senior Cayden Love provided a pivotal two-way performance with 15 points, a team-high seven rebounds, and three steals. Sophomore L. Cooper Sutton rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points, adding six defensive rebounds to help Central control the glass with a 27-rebound team total.

That defensive energy was personified by Love and senior Jayden Means, who each recorded three steals as the Maroons consistently disrupted the Spartan offense. The effort marked a significant turnaround from a 48-39 home loss to Peoria Manual just two days prior.

The Maroons will look to build on this momentum as they hit the road for their next contest, a non-conference matchup against another Springfield foe. Central is scheduled to face Springfield High School (2-1) on December 3.


Box Score Highlights:

  • Jeremy McCoy: 18 PTS
  • Cayden Love: 15 PTS, 7 REB, 3 STL
  • L. Cooper Sutton: 12 PTS, 6 DREB
  • Team: 27 Total REB, 11 STL, 22 BLK



Champaign Central Maroons basketball recap, Springfield Southeast Spartans game analysis, Illinois high school basketball defensive highlights, Champaign Central vs. Springfield Southeast final score, Central Maroons early season performance

Prep Hoops |
Thursday Basketball Scores


Girls' Basketball

Attica 39
Oakwood 47

Caydence Vermillion hit seven three-pointers on her way to a team-high 23 points and 15 rebounds against the Red Ramblers. Gracie Hanner hauled in 11 rebounds of her own, finishing nine points and five assists for the Comets.


Armstrong 27
Unity 36


Unity 53
North Vermillion 54

Kera Dunham tallied 15 points and Nora Thomann, a freshman, contributed another 13 in the non-conference win for the Falcons. Thomann led her team with eight rebounds and three assists. Dunham credited with six steals and four assists.


St. Joseph-Ogden 29
Bishop McNamara 41

The Spartans fall in State Farm Holiday Classic action at Normal West. Senior Katie Ericksen scored three treys to lead SJO's scoring effort with nine points.


Boys' Basketball

Oakwood 37
Tuscola 94


Harding Academy 52
Champaign Central 60

Maroons' Cayden Love shot 75% from the free throw line on his way to a team-high 16 points. Chris Bush and Luke Swanson nudged Central in the non-conference win with 13 points each. Love, a sophomore, collected four steals in the win.


St. Joseph-Ogden 56
Winnebago 42

Coy Taylor led SJO's scoring effort with 19 points. Tanner Siems added another 14 points and Collin Thomey chipped in 10. The trio, frequent visitors to the free throw line, made 12 of their 17 attempts.



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St. Joe-Ogden Athletics

Area prep basketball scores for Tuesday


Here are recaps and scores from area girls and boys basketball games yesterday.

Boys Basketball

Maroons fall in conference tilt to the Generals

Cayden Love had 14 points and nine rebounds in Central's loss at home to Decatur MacArthur (21-1). Sophomore Elijah Young stepped up as the team's second leading scorer with 12 points. Love and the Maroons (7-12) drop to 2-4 in conference play and play Manual on the road in Peoria on Friday.

Heritage misses victory in thriller

In their second meeting on the hardwood, hands down, Heritage played a better game against Tri-County, closing out regulation time tied at 67-all. In their game two weeks earlier, the Titans dominated the Hawks, 71-58. This time Heritage fell short by two, 72-74.

Senior Rylan White dropped a team-high 27 points with James Dillon (13 points) and Clark Roland (11 points) contributing heavily in the effort. White finished with 11 rebounds and Dillon snagged 10 of his own.

Unity beats Central Catholic on the road

KeShaun Manney's 29-point romp, the Rockets held the Saints to 17 points in the second half for another Illini Praire Conference victory, improving to 20-2 on the season.

Dane Eisenmenger scored 11 points in the second quarter, giving the Rockets a one-point deficit at the half. He finished the road game with 19 points and Coleton Langendorf was good for 18. Tre Hoggard finished with 11 much needed points, nine in the second half to help the team stay undefeated in conference play.

ALAH turn one-point lead to 11 at conference tourney

Seven players contributed to the Knights win over Villa Grove in Lincoln Prairie Conference tournament action on Tuesday. Will Hilligoss led the way for ALAH with 10 points. Marcus Otto and Cruz Hale finished with eight points each.

Hoopeston Area takes down Cissna Park

Junior Nick Cardenas led the Cornjerkers with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. JJ Martinez chipped in eight points and two steals. Senior Cole Miller five points and six boards in the home conference game. Improving to 10-11 on the season, Hoopeston goes on the road Friday to take on Bismarck-Henning.


Boys' Area Scoreboard


Illinois Valley Central 64, St. Joseph-Ogden 49
Unity 66, Bloomington Central Catholic 52
Bismarck-Henning 72, Watseka 22
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 45, Villa Grove 34
St. Thomas More vs Prairie Central - not reported
Centennial vs Lanphier - not reported
MacArthur 65, Champaign Central 51
Tri-County 74, Heritage 72 (OT)
Oakwood 67, Georgetown-Ridge Farm 57
Pontiac 45, Rantoul 36
Mahomet-Seymour 65, Bloomington 55
Hoopeston Area 41, Cissna Park 38


Girls Basketball

Rantoul falls in lopsided affair to Pontiac

Josie Roseman scored 12 points and Erykah Baltimore added ten more in the Eagles loss to Pontiac. Rantou falls to 12-13 overall and 2-4 in Illini Prairie Conference.

Urbana suffers 8 consecutive loss

Lai'yonna Harper put 12 points on the scoreboard and collected five steals but it wasn't enough to help lift the Tigers over the visiting Trojans on Tuesday. After a nine-all first half, Charleston outscored Urbana 30-17 for a non-conference win.

Kaya Hill was credited with eight steals and finished with seven points in the Tigers' 12th consecutive loss this season.

Scoring drought sinks Spartans at IVC

A huge third-quarter rally by the Grey Ghosts dug a hole too deep for the Spartans climb out, resulting in a 64-43 loss.

Timera Blackburn-Kelley finished with nine points for SJO, while Atleigh Miller added another eight points in the conference loss. Seniors Katie Ericksen and Kayla Osterbur were held to just seven points each.

Rockets stunned by Saints

Bloomington Central Catholic held Unity scoreless in the fourth quarter of their conference game Tuesday on the way to a 64-18 win. Allison Emm led all scorers with 18 points. Emme Hurie finished with 16 points and pulled in 10 of the Saints 35 rebounds.

Girls' Area Scoreboard


Illinois Valley Central 64, St. Joseph-Ogden 43
Bloomington Central Catholic 64, Unity 18
Pontiac 67, Rantoul 39
Charleston 39, Urbana 26
Prairie Central 62, St. Thomas More 21




Sentinel area prep basketball scores for January 21


Here is a quick roundup of basketball scores and performances for area teams on Wednesday, January 21.


Girls Basketball

Girls' Area Scoreboard


Salt Fork 52, Hoopeston Area 25
Urbana University 34, Chrisman 28


Boys Basketball

Central suffers loss to Centrailia

With a near silent contribution from the Maroons' senior class, who combined for just six points, junior Cayden Love led the Maroons with 18 points in the team's road loss to Centralia on Wednesday. After turning in his season-best 15 points against Centennial, sophomore Landyn Sutton, was held to just seven points. Love and another sophomore, Elijah Young, carried the team's rebounding effort with three each.

Parker Fitch drops 20 on Manteno

Following up a 16-point, seven rebound night against Prairie Central, St. Joseph-Ogden's Parker Fitch was a threat no matter where he was on the court against Manteno. The senior was 4-for-6 inside the arc and made three out of seven shots on the other side for 20 points. Lane McKinney added nine points and Nolan Franzen finished with 8 points, leading the team in rebounding with seven. Kaden Wedig also delivered nine points and six boards.


Boys' Area Scoreboard


St. Joseph-Ogden 59, Manteno 33
Centralia 66, Champaign Central 40


Coaches: Email game stats or score book to sport@oursentinel.com to include your team in our area basketball score reports.



Prep Hoops |
Thursday Basketball Scores


Girls' Basketball

St. Joseph-Ogden 57 - Danville 39
Kayla Osterbur dropped a team-high 14 points in the Spartans' home game against the Vikings. Addie Brooks was good for another 12 to pull out the W for the team's third win of the season. Danville's Jada Bell led all scorers with 18 points. She converted on eight of her 10 free throws attempts.


Unity 33 - Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond 27
With the Knights shooting just 48 shots, sophomore Morgan Casteel shot 29% from the field to lead her team with nine points on the road against the Rockets. Unity host the Urbana Tigers on Monday for their annual non-conference rivalry game.
Glenwood 59 - Centennial 15
The Chargers drop to 1-5 after the road loss. Centennial looks ahead to Tuesday's home game against Peoria Manual to halt a three-game skid.
Urbana 30 - Urbana University 26
The Tigers are 2-1 after defeating the Illineks of U-High. Sophomore Lai'yonna Harper led Urbana with 10 points. Junior Madison Shade added seven to the cause. The Tigers, who finished 1-20 in the previous season, look for win number three at Unity on Monday.

Chizara Onyemele paced the Uni with ten points.


Boys' Basketball

Central 69 - Richwoods 65
The Maroons (4-2) notched their first conference win with four players reaching double figures. Chris Bush led the scoring output with 24 points. Luke Swanson delivered an 18-point performance while Cayden Love chipped in 12 points and Aidyn Beck added another 11. Swanson finished with seven boards and Trey Cole grabbed five more against the Knights (4-1). Central returns to action next Friday in another Big Twelve contest with Normal Community coming to town.


Attention Coaches: Help us keep area basketball, wrestling, and competitive dance fans informed! Email us your team's game and match results for the Prep Sports Notebook. Please send us a clear photo of the scorebook or link to game results at sports@oursentinel.com.

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Prep Hoops |
Tuesday's area basketball summary



Sentinel area basketball scores. Don't see your team's score listed? Read below to learn how to send us your game scores and stats.


Girls' Basketball

Champaign Central 58 - Rantoul 50
The Maroons had three players finish their non-conference home game finish in double figures. The win improving Central's record to 3-5.

Junior Khalia Williams led the team with 15 points and seven rebounds. Samara McArthur finished with 12 points and five boards. Meanwhile, senior Alex Parastaran collected 10 points while dishing out a team-high nine assists and snatching five steals.

Thursday night, Williams and the Maroons host Danville (4-7) in a Big Twelve conference contest.


Oakwood 42 - Armstrong 45
Down 28-17 at the half, Oakwood made up the deficit in the second half but came up short, taking a loss in Vermilion Valley Conference play. Bella Bradford scored a team-high 14 points in the Comets' road game on Tuesday. Fellow senior Rylee Wright finished the loss with ten points.

Boys' Basketball

Champaign Central 71 - Unity 59
Chris Bush drained 19 points and collected six rebounds in the Maroons' road game at Unity (3-3). Sophomore Cayden Love shined, scoring 18 points to bolster Central's record to 5-3.

The Maroons travel to Decatur to take on the Eisenhower (4-4).


Hoopeston 46 - Cissna Park 44
Brayden Walder delivered 16 points in Hoopeston Area's VVC non-conference win over Cissna Park (3-8).

Cole Miller, who scored four points, had eight rebounds. Trenton Montez, a senior, also finished with eight boards along with seven points.

The Cornjerkers play at home on Friday, hosting the Storm of Salt Fork.


Urbana 51 - Sacred Heart-Griffin 79
The Cyclones handed the Tigers their fourth-consecutive loss. Urbana looks to improve their early-season record after Friday's road game at Peoria Notre Dame.
St. Thomas More 55 - Clifton Central 60
The Sabers (4-6) were outscored 8-3 in the overtime period by the Comets (7-4).

St. Thomas More is back in action on Saturday at the Eureka College Shootout where they will face Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley.


Urbana U-High 32 - Westville 75

Attention Coaches: Hey, help us keep area basketball, wrestling, and competitive dance fans informed! Email us your team's game and match results for the Prep Sports Notebook. Please send us a clear photo of the scorebook or link to game results at sports@oursentinel.com.

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